By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

A Dallas County High School softball player was recently named one of the nation’s best.

The 4A state champion pitcher Cassie Daniels was named to the MaxPreps Small Schools All-American Softball team.

Dallas County High School coach Ed Miller said Daniels is more than deserving of the honor.

“Cassie has fantastic work ethic and she’s a terrific ball player,” Miller said.

“She really helped us a lot. To have a small, country team get somebody on an All-American team really means something.”

The senior pitcher was named the Alabama 4A State Player of the Year this past season after going 34-5 with 426 strikeouts in 223 innings pitched, including 20 shutouts and six no-hitters.

Daniels was also named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association All-Super State team following Dallas County High’s championship run.

Daniels said she was surprised when she heard the news.

“I was not expecting it at all,” Daniels said. “I never saw it coming. I have been blessed by God.”

Daniels said she owes a lot of her success to the play and support of her teammates.

“All the numbers and statistics are what they are because I had a great defense behind me,” she said. “Some people don’t realize that a no-hitter does not mean no one hit the ball. It means that you either struck out the hitters or someone hit the ball and your defense made the catch or the play and prevented it from being a statistical hit.

“I owe those numbers to the great defense our team played.”

Daniels said she also had great coaching and a great catcher, while Miller says her leadership is what also helped her win the award.

“She’s a great leader and she’s always upbeat,” Miller said.

“She’s the player I go to. When she hurt her knee, she was working harder than anybody, and when the team saw her setting the example, they knew they had to work extra hard.”